Rotating ring for device control

ABSTRACT

A ring device to be worn on a digit of a user is provided. The ring device includes an inner ring suitable to be worn on a digit of a user and a housing rotatably coupled to the inner ring. Along the housing a touch surface is located along with touch sensors configured to detect a touch input. Additionally, the ring includes rotary sensors configured to detect rotation of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of communicationtechnology, and more particularly to an input device worn by a user.

The modern communications era has brought about a tremendous expansionof wireline and wireless networks. Computer networks, televisionnetworks, and telephone networks are experiencing an unprecedentedtechnological expansion fueled by consumer demands. Together with theseexpanding network capabilities and communication speeds, the devicesthat use these networks have experienced tremendous technological stepsforward in capabilities, features, and user interface. Such devices mayalso use accessories such as remote input devices, wireless headsets orwired headsets with limited functional capabilities. Devicescommunicating via these networks may be used for a wide variety ofpurposes including, among other things, Short Messaging Services (SMS),Instant Messaging (IM) service, E-mail, voice calls, musicrecording/playback, video recording/playback, and internet browsing.Such capabilities have made these devices very desirable for thosewishing to stay in touch and make themselves available to others.

Hands free devices have increased in popularity through the advent oflaws prohibiting hand-held mobile device usage when driving a vehicleand the desire of users to communicate without monopolizing the use of ahand. Such devices may include a wired headset that is physicallyconnected to a mobile device or a wireless headset that is connected toa mobile device through a wireless Personal Area Network connection.Additionally, wireless vehicle accessories may allow a user to use aspeaker and microphone within a vehicle to communicate over their mobiledevice. Such devices may enable the user of a mobile device to carry ona voice call through their mobile device without having to hold thedevice. Further, a wireless headset or vehicle accessory may allow auser to carry on a voice call while the device remains in a purse,pocket, glove box, or other nearby location that may not be readilyaccessible. Such wireless devices or headsets and vehicle accessoriesusing other communications protocols may have limited functionality withrespect to a device to which they are paired or synchronized.

SUMMARY

A ring device to be worn on a digit of a user is provided. The ringdevice includes an inner ring suitable to be worn on a digit of a userand a housing rotatably coupled to the inner ring. Along the housing atouch surface is located along with touch sensors configured to detect atouch input. Additionally, the ring includes rotary sensors configuredto detect rotation of the housing.

A method for determining intentional input to a touch surface of awearable device is provided. The method includes identifying a firstinteraction by a user with the touch surface. The method includesdetermining an amount of force applied by the first interaction. Themethod includes determining a duration the first interaction occurred.The method includes, in response to the amount of force applied by theinteraction being above a first threshold and the duration theinteraction occurred being below a second threshold, storing the firstinteraction.

A method of identifying a user of a wearable device is provided. Themethod includes determining the wearable device is being worn by theuser. The method includes determining an identity of the user. Themethod includes, in response to the identity of the user beingauthorized to use the wearable device, identifying a profile of theuser. The method includes, in response to one or more interactions withthe wearable device, determining a command based, at least in part, onthe one or more interactions and the profile of the user. The methodincludes sending the command to a computing device for execution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a user interfaceenvironment, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of a ring that functions as aninput device, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2B illustrates a side view of a ring that functions as an inputdevice, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a example arrangement of a rotational chargingcomponent of a ring that functions as an input device, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates operational processes of a ring program foridentifying a user, executing on a ring that functions as an inputdevice, within the environment of FIG. 1, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates operational processes of a ring program fordetermining intentional touch inputs, executing on a ring that functionsas an input device, within the environment of FIG. 1, in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram of components of the computing deviceexecuting a ring program or device program, in accordance with anexemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While solutions to providing hands-free devices are known, they offerlimited functionality and interaction with connected devices. Priorsolutions rely on either voice commands or gestures to interact withdevices. Such interactions take time to perform and recognize by thehands-free devices. For example, voice commands need to be recorded, andthen recognized, before a command can be performed. Embodiments of thepresent invention recognize that by providing a ring device to be wornbe a user faster input and response is achieved with a connected device.Furthermore, embodiments of the present invention provide various inputmechanisms to allow users to select a greater array of input commands tosend to a connected device. Embodiments of the present invention providea rotating portion of the ring device. In such cases, the rotating ringprovides faster selection of menu items for a connected device, such asa mobile phone, smart TV or augmented reality (AR) glasses.Additionally, embodiments of the present invention provide a portion ofthe ring device with a touch sensitive sensor. In such cases, the touchsensitive sensor allows for faster input of commands, such as tapping orpressing of the ring by the user. Prior solutions also require time tocharge and must be taken off by the user during such time. Embodimentsto the present invention provide an induction component that generateselectrical charge to recharge a battery of the ring while a useroperates or wears the device. As such, embodiments to the presentinventions provide mechanisms to receive user input with minimal effortwhile allowing for long periods of use.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suit-able combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe Figures. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating userinterface environment, generally designated 100, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. User interface environment 100includes ring 110 and computing device 140 connected over network 120.Ring 110 includes ring program 115 and computing device 140 includesdevice program 145.

In various embodiments of the present invention, ring 110 and computingdevice 140 are each a computing device that can be a standalone device,a server, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a netbook computer, apersonal computer (PC), a desktop computer, smartphone, smarttelevision, or augmented reality glasses. In another embodiment, ring110 and computing device 140 each represent a computing system utilizingclustered computers and components to act as a single pool of seamlessresources. In general, ring 110 or computing device 140 can be anycomputing device or a combination of devices with access to, and iscapable of executing, ring program 115 or device program 145. Ring 110and computing device 140 may include internal and external hardwarecomponents, as depicted and described in further detail with respect toFIG. 6. In various embodiments, computing device 140 has access tovarious devices and programs that a user may wish to control using ring110. For the sake of simplicity, specific devices and programs are notshown in FIG. 1 but are represented by external devices and programs 618being connected to computing device 140 via network 120. As describedbelow and shown in FIG. 6, such devices include one or more respectiveprograms (not shown) are represented by external devices and programs618 and are in communication with computing device 140. In someembodiments, such external devices 618 include devices such asmultimedia systems, for example televisions and stereos, as well ascomputing systems such as laptops, personal computers, and smartphones,smart televisions, augmented reality glasses and their associatedsoftware.

In this exemplary embodiment, ring program 115 is stored on ring 110.Device program 145 is stored on computing device 140. However, in otherembodiments, ring program 115 and device program 145 may be storedexternally and accessed through a communication network, such as network120. Network 120 can be, for example, a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN) such as the Internet, or a combination of the two,and may include wired, wireless, fiber optic or any other connectionknown in the art. In general, network 120 can be any combination ofconnections and protocols that will support communications between ring110, ring program 115, computing device 140, device program 145 andother devices and programs connected to network 120, such as externaldevices and program 618, in accordance with a desired embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 2A & 2B illustrate a perspective view and a side view,respectively, of ring 110, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. Ring 110 includes inner ring 210, housing 220,and touch surface 230. In some embodiments, housing 220 and touchsurface 230 are rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwisedirections relative to inner ring 210. In other embodiments, touchsurface 230 is rotatable in both clockwise and counterclockwisedirections relative to inner ring 210 and housing 220. In some cases, auser wears ring 110 on a digit of the hand. When worn on a digit (e.g.,a finger) a user interacts with ring 110 with the user's thumb. Whenworn on a thumb, the user interacts with ring 110 with the user's fingerof the user's hand. Alternatively, ring 110 may be interacted with thedigits of the hand opposite of the hand on which ring 110 is worn. Insome embodiments, touch surface 230 or housing 220 rotatable for a 360°rotation relative to inner ring 210. In other embodiments, surface orhousing 220 are rotatable for a fixed amount less than 360°. In furtherembodiments, one or more springs, rubber or other elastic mechanismprovides a return-to-center capability of one or both of the rotatedtouch surface 230 or housing 220. Upon release, touch surface 230 orhousing 220 return to the originating point prior to rotation. Inanother embodiment, ring 110 includes two independently rotatableportions. The first rotatable portion is proximal to the base of thedigit ring 110 is worn and the second rotatable portion distal to thebase of the digit ring 110 is worn.

In various embodiments, touch surface 230 receives touch input from adigit of the user. In some embodiments, touch surface 230 covers thecircumference of housing 220. In other embodiments, a portion of thecircumference of housing 220 is covered by touch surface 230. Touchsurface 230 includes one or more touch sensitive sensors to determinethat touch surface 230 has been touched and a force applied to touchsurface 230. In some embodiments, touch surface 230 extends past or isflush with the side surfaces of housing 220. In other embodiments, touchsurface 230 is recessed in housing 220. In such embodiments, a digit ofthe user may rotate housing 220 without interaction with touch surface230. In an embodiment, touch surface 230 covers the top and bottom sidesof housing 220 to provide a larger area for user interaction by a wearerof ring 110.

In various embodiments, ring 110 and computing device 140 each includecommunication hardware and software, such as a communication deviceconfigured for communicating via wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)(such as via the IEEE 802.15 or 802.11 standards), infrared (IrDA),ultra wideband (UWB), and the like. While not shown, such acommunications device may comprise a processor, transceiver,transmitter, receiver, or the like embedded within ring 110 and anantenna, in communication therewith, which may be disposed about theperimeter of ring 110. Ring 110 may further include processing hardwareand software for processing data (e.g., input data, sensor data, etc.)such as a processor or circuitry with the processing capabilitiesnecessary for implementation of embodiments of the present invention.

In various embodiments, ring 110 is synchronized or paired withcomputing device 140. A communication device of ring 110 connects to andcommunicates with a communication device of computing device 140. Ringprogram 115 and device program 145 send and receive information via theabove connection of communication devices. Ring program 115 receivesinput a variety of sensors of ring 110. The sensors of ring 110 sendinput to ring program 115 based on interactions with ring 110 by awearer. In response to receiving an input from one or more sensors ofring 110, ring program 115 sends a corresponding command to deviceprogram 145. For example, a tap on the touch surface 230 corresponds toa selection option in a menu in device program 145. As another example,a rotation of touch surface 230 or housing 220 corresponds to a changingof a menu item in device program 145.

In various embodiments, touch surface 230 includes one or more touchsensitive sensors to determine a touch interaction by a user with touchsurface 230. For example, touch surface 230 includes a capacitive touchsensor array that is flexible, covering the circumference of ring 110.In an embodiment, only a portion of the circumference of ring 110includes a touch surface 230 or one or more corresponding touch sensors.In some embodiments, touch surface 230 also includes one or more forcesensors to determine the amount of force applied to touch surface 230when interacted with by a user. While being worn on a digit, otherdigits, body parts, or other objects may interact with touch surface230. As discussed herein by receiving an indication of the amount offorce applied to touch surface 230, ring program 115 determines if thetouch was intentional or accidental. For example, if the amount of forceapplied to touch surface 230 equivalent or less than a force appliedwhen two fingers brush against one another, then ring program 115determines the touch interaction was accidental and, as a result, doesnot process the interaction as input. Ring program 115 determines thatinteractions with a stronger force applied than an accidental brushing,or other accidental interactions that may occur while ring 110 is beingworn, are intentional interactions and, as such, are processed as input.

In some embodiments, ring 110 includes one or more haptic feedbackcomponents along touch surface 230 to provide response to touch inputfrom a wearer of ring 110. The haptic feedback components change thepressure exerted by portions of touch surface 230 to provide thesensation of touching a button, even though a physical button is notpresent in ring 110. In other embodiments, ring 110 includes one or morevibratory motors to provide feedback when receiving input from a user.

In various embodiments, ring 110 includes a rotary sensor to detectrotational movements of touch surface 230, housing 220 or inner ring210. Based on the change of rotation, the rotary sensor indicates achange in rotation of touch surface 230, housing 220 or inner ring 210.Ring program 115 receives the input from the sensor. Based on the input,ring program 115 determines if rotation occurred and, if so, the amountof rotation. For example, the sensor indicates rotation of a surface ofring 110 has occurred, however, ring program 112 determines that theamount of rotation is not sufficient to send a command corresponding tothe received rotation. As the ring is worn, minor amounts of rotationmay occur (e.g., two fingers rubbing against one another). Ring program115 determines that small amounts of rotation are accidental and notsend a command associated with rotation to device program 145.

In some embodiments, ring 110 one or more biometric sensors to determineand authenticate the identity of a wearer of the ring. For example, ring110 includes a fingerprint sensor along touch surface 230. A user wearsthe ring on a finger. The user places or swipes across a thumb toauthenticate usage of ring 110. The fingerprint sensor sendsauthentication information to ring program 115. In response, ringprogram 115 authorizes usage for the user and sends commands to deviceprogram 145 as the commands are received. As another example, inner ring210 includes a vascular scanner to determine vein patterns of the digitthe ring is worn. As a ring is placed on a digit, the vascular scannerdetermines and authenticates the identity of the user. The vascularscanner sends authentication information to ring program 115. Inresponse, ring program 115 authorizes usage for the user and sendscommands to device program 145 as the commands are received.Additionally the vascular scanner determines if ring 110 is removed. Inresponse to removal, the vascular scanner sends a message to ringprogram 115 that the user is no longer wearing the ring. As such, ringprogram 115 ceases the sending of commands device program 145 untilauthentication is re-established.

By authenticating and identifying a user, ring program 115 providesadditional functionality to ring 110. For example, ring program 115includes one or more profiles of users authenticated to wear and usering 110. One user may be an adult in a family and has full access tocommands and menus of device program 145. Another user is a child in afamily. When the child wears the rings and is identified, only a subsetof commands or menus of device program 145 are accessible. As anotherexample, ring 110 includes a near-field communication (NFC) tag toperform transactions at a point-of-sale terminal. Upon authentication,ring program 115 enables the NFC tag to permit the tags use fortransactions. If ring 110 is removed and cannot be authenticated (e.g.,ring 110 is lost or stolen), then ring program 115 disables the NFC tag,preventing unauthorized transactions by other users.

In various embodiments, ring 110 includes one or more rechargeablebatteries to supply power to the various devices and components of ring110. Ring 110 also includes a charging device to recharge the one ormore rechargeable batteries. In some embodiments, ring 110 includes oneor more induction coils connected to the rechargeable batteries.Additionally, ring 110 includes one or more power conditioning circuitsconnected to the rechargeable batteries to ensure the power supplied tothe rechargeable batteries matches a requirement or specification of thebatteries. For example, the power conditioning circuits may step upvoltage or ensure a polarity applied to the terminals of therechargeable batteries. In embodiments with induction coils, theinduction coil provide a contact-less mechanism to charge therechargeable batteries of ring 110. In one embodiment and scenario, acoil (not shown), or primary coil, is connected to a power source (e.g.,a wall outlet) thereby generating a magnetic field. A user places ring110 in proximity to the primary coil, such that the magnetic fluxgenerated by magnetic field of the primary coil induces a current in theinduction coil or secondary coil of ring 110. The induced current istransferred to the rechargeable batteries of ring 110, thereby chargingthe rechargeable batteries of ring 110.

In another embodiment and scenario, ring 110 includes one or moremagnets. The one or more magnets of ring 110 are arranged such that whentouch surface 230 or housing 220 is rotated, an electrical current isinduced in the induction coil of ring 110. Such an arrangement providesa mechanism to charge the rechargeable batteries of ring 110 through theuse of ring 110. As a user rotates the ring through daily use to sendcommands to device program 145, the charge of the rechargeable batteriesis replenished. Such a mechanism extends the battery life of ring 110without removing the ring as described in the above scenario. Themovement in the rotation of touch surface 230 or housing 220 isconverted into electrical energy stored in the reachable batteries ofring 110. FIG. 3 illustrates an example arrangement of a rotationalcharging component included in ring 110. FIG. 3 includes inner ring 210and the bottom portion of housing 220. Touch surface 230 and the topportion of housing 220 are not shown to provide a view of the rotationalcharging component. In this illustration, touch surface 230 is fixed tohousing 220 such that the rotation of both touch surface 230 and housing220 move independent of inner ring 210.

FIG. 3 includes rechargeable battery 312, electrical components 314 a-b,inductive coil 324, magnet 326, and arm 328. In this example,rechargeable battery 312 is a flexible battery to fit the contours ofring 110, thereby maximizing space of the enclosure of ring 110. In somescenarios, one or more batteries are layered and cut to contour theenclosure of ring 110. Electrical components 314 a-b connect the ends ofinductive coil 324 to battery 312. Electrical components 314 a-b includeleads to connect battery 312 to inductive coil 324. Additionallyelectrical components 314 a-b may include power conditioning circuitelements such as, but not limited to, voltage regulators or rectifiers.

In this example, inductive coil 324 is coiled in the direction of thecircular enclosure between inner ring 210, housing 220 and touch surface230. In some embodiments and scenarios, more than one inductive coil maybe included. For example, more than one rotational induction componentmay be included in ring 110. In other scenarios, inductive coil 324 is awound in a linear direction. In this illustrated example, the number ofturns of the winding of inductive coil 324 is shown to provide a visualrepresentation of the coil. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate that a number of turns in inductive coil 324 may increase ordecrease without deviating from the invention. Referring back to FIG. 3,in this example battery 312, electrical components 314 a-b and inductivecoil 324 are fixed to housing 220. Arm 328 is fixed to inner ring 210.Arm 328 is extends past inner ring 210 and is curved to fit the contoursof the enclosure of ring 110. Additionally magnet 326 is fixed to thedistal end of arm 328 from inner ring 210. In some embodiments andscenarios, magnet 326 is a rare-earth magnet. A rare-earth magnet is apermanent magnet made from alloys of rare earth elements, such asneodymium (Nd₂Fe₁₄B) or samarium-cobalt (SmCo₅). Rare-earth magnets havestronger magnetic fields than other certain magnets, such as a ferritemagnet. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anypermanent magnet may be used, either rare-earth alloys or ferrite,without deviating from the invention.

As discussed in this example, housing 220 rotates independently frominner ring 210. Furthermore, inductive coil 324, and similarly battery312 and electrical components 314 a-b, is fixed to housing 220. When auser rotates housing 220, or touch surface 230 in this example,inductive coil 324 moves across the magnetic field produced by permanentmagnet 326. Due to the movement of inductive coil 324 across themagnetic field produced by magnet 326, an electrical current is producedbased on the user rotating housing 220. Furthermore, in cases when innerring 210 rotates, the magnetic field of magnet 326 moves along inductivecoil 324, also producing a current. In both cases, the generated currentrecharges battery 312. As such, when housing 220 or touch surface 230 isrotated by a wearer of ring 110, battery 312 is recharged. Such anarrangement allows for a constant recharging of batter 312 throughoutdaily use.

In some scenarios, additional charging mechanisms may be included, suchas but not limited to, electromagnetic inductance of the induction coil(i.e., secondary coil) from another electrically charged coil (i.e.,primary coil), direct contacts on the exterior of ring 110 connected tobattery 312, an ambient backscatter or radio-frequency (RF) collector,or a movement induction charger (e.g., when a user moves ring 110 themovement is translated into an electrical current). In other scenarios,a user may disengage the communication device of ring 110 to conservebattery. In this mode of operation, a user may continue to charge thebattery by rotating housing 220 or touch surface 230. For example, aseries of touch inputs on touch surface 230 disconnects thecommunication device of ring 110 to the communication device ofcomputing device 140. During this mode, less power is used and theamount of charge generated by the rotational induction component orother charging mechanisms replenish more charge of battery 312.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the rotational induction component may alsoinclude springs 336 a-b, pressure switches 334 a-b, and stoppers 332a-b. Stoppers 332 a-b are fixed to housing 220. Each stopper 332 a-b hasa respective pressure switch 334 a-b. Springs 336 a-b are coupled,respectively, to stoppers 332 a-b and opposite sides of arm 328. Aseither inner ring 210 or housing 220 rotates, a corresponding spring 332a-b compresses and exert an amount of force of pressure switches 334a-b. Pressure switches 334 a-b are configured to activate once apredetermined amount of force is applied be the respective springs 336a-b. Ring program 115 receives input from pressure switches 334 a-b oncethe force reaches the threshold to activate (e.g., when the housing isrotated a certain amount and the compressed spring of springs 336 a-bexerts enough force to activate the respective pressure switch ofpressure switches 334 a-b). Such a configuration provides areturn-to-center operation as discussed herein (after activation, thespring returns housing to the originating position). Furthermore, theconfiguration also provides another embodiment of a rotary sensor (e.g.,the springs compressing when rotation exceeds a certain amount,indicating to ring program 115 when activation occurs). Additionally,the illustrated configuration of springs 336 a-b, pressure switches 334a-b, and stoppers 332 a-b providing better charging of battery 312. Thefaster a magnet moves, the stronger the magnetic field being produced.As such, when springs 336 a-b extend after compression, a fastermovement of magnet 326 through induction coil 324 is achieved. Thefaster movement generates a stronger magnetic field passing throughinduction coil 324, thereby charging battery 312 more efficiently.

FIG. 4 illustrates operational processes of ring program 115 foridentifying a user, generally designated 400, executing on ring 110 thatfunctions as an input device, within the environment of FIG. 1, inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Inprocess 402, ring program 115 determines if ring 110 is being worn by auser. Ring 110 includes one or more sensors to determine if ring 110 isbeing worn by a user. For example, ring 110 includes a heart rate sensorto determine if a pulse is detected. The heart rate sensor sends anindication to ring program 115 that ring 110 is currently being worn bya user. In some scenarios, ring program 115 polls the heart rate sensorto determine if a user is wearing ring 110. If no user is wearing ring110 (NO branch of process 402), the ring program 115 enters ahibernating state, minimizing power usage and routinely checking the oneor more sensors to determine if ring 110 is being worn by a user.

If ring program 115 determines that ring 110 is being worn (YES branchof process 404), then ring program 115 determines the identity of thewearer. In process 404, ring program 115 determines the identity of thewearer. In some embodiments, the sensors used to determine that a useris wearing ring 110 comprise one or more biometric sensors. For example,ring 110 includes a vascular scanner. Upon placing ring 110 on a digitby a user, the vascular scanner sends an indication to ring program 115that a wearer is detected, such as described in process 402.Additionally, the vascular scanner sends a model or imaging data of thevein structure of the finger of the wearer to ring program 115. Ringprogram 115 compares the received model to models of one or more usersstored on ring 110. Based on a match between the received model tomodels of one or more users stored on ring 110, ring program 115determines the identity of the wearer to be the user associated with thematched model stored on ring 110. In other embodiments, ring 110includes one or more biometric sensors not used in process 402 todetermine if ring 110 is being worn. For example, ring 110 includes afingerprint scanner on housing 220. After ring program 115 detects ring110 is being worn, ring program 115 alerts the wearer to verify thewearer's identity. In some scenarios, ring 110 may vibrate or illuminatean light emitting diode (LED) to indicate the need for identityverification. In other scenarios, ring program 110 sends a message todevice program 145 to alert the user to verify the wearer's identity viathe biometric sensors.

In process 406, ring program 115 determines if the identified wearer isauthorized to use ring 110. If the biometric information received inprocess 404 does no match a user's identity stored on ring 110 (NObranch of process 406), then ring program 115 ends processing and waitsfor a removal of ring 110. Upon a new indication from the sensors ofring 110 that a user is wearing ring 110 (e.g., process 402), ringprogram 115 repeats processes 402-406 until the identity of the wearermatches an identity stored on ring 110. If ring program 115 determines amatch between the received biometric information in process 404 to anidentity stored on ring 110, then ring program 115 identifies a profileassociated with the matched user. In process 408, ring programidentifies the profile associated with the wearer. A profile for awearer may include information describing one or more devices, and theirrespective programs, that ring program 115 can connect to. A profile mayalso include a configuration for mapping input received by ring program115, when a user interacts with ring 110, to commands or operations tobe executed by device program 145. For example, one profile for a userindicates that rotating ring 110 will change the volume on a connectedSmart TV. Another profile for a different user indicates that thatrotating ring 110 will change the channel on the Smart TV. A profile mayalso indicate a mode of operation for device program 145. For example,an adult user has full access to a video streaming service. Whereas, achild user only has access to videos approved for children. After theprofile is identified, ring program 115 sends corresponding commands,based on interactions by a wearer with ring 110, to device program 145(process 410).

FIG. 5 illustrates operational processes of ring program 115 fordetermining intentional touch inputs, generally designated 500,executing on ring 110 that functions as an input device, within theenvironment of FIG. 1, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. As a user of ring 110 wears ring 110, accidentalcontact with touch surface 230 may occur. When worn on a finger,adjacent fingers or other portions of the user's body may brush againsttouch surface 230. As discussed herein, ring program 115 includesprocessing to determine when a touch input is intentional or accidental.In process 502, ring program 115 identifies that touch surface 230 ofring 110 is contacted by the wearer of ring 110. Touch surface 230includes one or more touch sensors that indicate a wearer of ring 110 isin contact with touch surface 230. In process 504, ring program 115determines an amount of force and duration of the contact made withtouch surface 230. One or more sensors in touch surface 230 sendinformation to ring program 145 regarding the amount of force beingapplied to touch surface.

In process 506, ring program 115 determines if the amount of pressureexceeds a certain threshold. If the amount of force is below thethreshold amount (NO branch of process 506), then ring program 115ignores the contact made and waits for a new contact with touch surfaceto occur (process 502). By ignoring contact that has a minimal amount offorce applied to touch surface 230, ring program 115 accounts foraccidental inputs where a user may quickly brush against ring 110. Ifthe amount of force is above a certain threshold (YES branch of process506), then ring program 115 determines if the duration of the contact isbelow a certain threshold (process 508). If the contact is for anextended amount of time (NO branch of process 508), then ring program115 ignores the contact made and waits for a new contact with touchsurface to occur (process 502). By ignoring contact with a longduration, ring program 115 accounts for unintentional contacts thatgenerate a large enough amount of force but are not as deliberate as aquick tap on touch surface 230, such as grasping objects with the handring 110 is worn on. If the amount of time contact is made with touchsurface is below the threshold (YES branch of process 508), then ringprogram registers the input.

In process 510, ring program 115 determines if the received contact ispart of a pattern. As each contact is made with touch surface 230, ringprogram 115 stores a representation of one or more contacts made withtouch surface 230 that are both of an appropriate force and duration.Ring program 115 stores previous contacts made within a certain amountof time. For example, ring program 115 stores each contact made by thewearer over the last five seconds. The types of contacts may be groupedin different categories such as short presses, long presses, lightpresses or hard presses. Also a pattern may be determined based on thetime between contacts, such as two short presses, a second withoutcontact, and a long press. Ring program 115 matches the receivedcontacts made by the wearer to one or more patterns stored a storagedevice of ring 110. Based on the matched pattern, ring program 115selects a command associated with the matched pattern. In process 512,ring program 115 sends the selected command to the device program 145based on the received pattern of contact made by the wearer.

FIG. 6 depicts a block diagram, 600, of components for each of ring 110and computing device 140, in accordance with an illustrative embodimentof the present invention. It should be appreciated that FIG. 6 providesonly an illustration of one implementation and does not imply anylimitations with regard to the environments in which differentembodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depictedenvironment may be made.

Ring 110 and computing device 140 each include communications fabric602, which provides communications between computer processor(s) 604,memory 606, persistent storage 608, communications unit 610, andinput/output (I/O) interface(s) 612. Communications fabric 602 can beimplemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/orcontrol information between processors (such as microprocessors,communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheraldevices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example,communications fabric 602 can be implemented with one or more buses.

Memory 606 and persistent storage 608 are computer-readable storagemedia. In this embodiment, memory 606 includes random access memory(RAM) 614 and cache memory 616. In general, memory 606 can include anysuitable volatile or non-volatile computer-readable storage media.

Ring program 115 and device program 145 are each stored in therespective persistent storage 608 for execution and/or access by one ormore of the respective computer processors 604 via one or more memoriesof memory 606. In this embodiment, persistent storage 608 includes amagnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetichard disk drive, persistent storage 608 can include a solid state harddrive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any othercomputer-readable storage media that is capable of storing programinstructions or digital information.

The media used by persistent storage 608 may also be removable. Forexample, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 608.Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, andsmart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto anothercomputer-readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage608.

Communications unit 610, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices, including resources ofnetwork 120. In these examples, communications unit 610 includes one ormore network interface cards. Communications unit 610 may providecommunications through the use of either or both physical and wirelesscommunications links. Ring program 115 and device program 145 may bedownloaded to persistent storage 608 through communications unit 610.

I/O interface(s) 612 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be each connected to ring 110 and computing device 140.For example, I/O interface 612 may provide a connection to externaldevices 618 such as a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or someother suitable input device. External devices 618 can also includeportable computer-readable storage media such as, for example, thumbdrives, portable optical or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Softwareand data used to practice embodiments of the present invention, e.g.,Ring program 115 and device program 145, can each be stored on suchportable computer-readable storage media and can be loaded ontopersistent storage 608 via I/O interface(s) 612. I/O interface(s) 612also connect to a display 620.

Display 620 provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be,for example, a computer monitor, or a television screen.

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of theinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

It is to be noted that the term(s) “Smalltalk” and the like may besubject to trademark rights in various jurisdictions throughout theworld and are used here only in reference to the products or servicesproperly denominated by the marks to the extent that such trademarkrights may exist.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable device for operating a computingdevice, comprising: an inner ring suitable to be worn on a digit of auser; a housing rotatably coupled to the inner ring; a touch surfacelocated along a circumference of the housing; one or more touch sensorsconfigured to detect a touch input by the user on the touch surface; oneor more rotary sensors configured to detect a rotation of the housing; aprocessing unit configured to generate a command based on input asdetermined based on one or more signals from one or both of the (i) oneor more touch sensors or (ii) the one or more rotary sensors; and acommunication unit configured to transmit the command for execution bythe computing device.
 2. The wearable device of claim 1, the wearabledevice further comprising: a kinetic induction device coupled to one ormore rechargeable batteries.
 3. The wearable device of claim 2, whereinthe kinetic induction device further comprises: an inductive coilcoupled to the housing; and a magnet coupled to the inner ring, whereinthe magnet is located within the inductive coil.
 4. The wearable deviceof claim 3, wherein the rotation of the housing moves the inductive coilacross a magnetic field produced by the magnet.
 5. The wearable deviceof claim 4, the wearable device further comprising: at least one spring,wherein the at least one spring compresses in response to the rotationof the housing.
 6. The wearable device of claim 1, the wearable devicefurther comprising: one or more biometric sensors configured to detectthe wearable device being worn.
 7. The wearable device of claim 1, thewearable device further comprising: one or more biometric sensorsconfigured to determine an identity of the user of the wearable device.8. The wearable device of claim 7, wherein the processing unit isconfigured to select a profile of the user based on the identity of theuser.
 9. The wearable device of claim 7, the wearable device furthercomprising: a near field communication (NFC) tag, wherein the processingunit is configured to activate the NFC tag based on the identity of theuser.
 10. The wearable device of claim 1, the wearable device furthercomprising: one or more haptic feedback devices located underneath thetouch surface, wherein the one or more haptic feedback devices exertpressure on a portion of the touch surface. 11-15. (canceled)